Interview With Allison Du Val, Managing Director of The Foundry

Allison Du Val – Managing Director of The Foundry – Chuck Baker Photography

“There is that family aspect – both my parents and I still live in parts of the building. We are at The Foundry every day and consider it our home.” For The Foundry’s Managing Director Allison Du Val, running one of New York City’s premier event venues is much more than just a job. She grew up in The Foundry, skipping through the building’s maze-like corridors and exploring its raw grounds daily. Over the next two decades, she watched the former metal foundry, which was also her home, transform into a captivating space for hosting weddings and exclusive parities. Never losing the awe and wonder that filled her imagination as a child, Allison deeply understands and cares about the history, character, and spirit of the building.
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Priyanka Chopra Bouquet - via marthastewartweddings.com

Planning & Inspiration

15 Famous Brides And Their Wedding Bouquets

by Kate Murphy

Priyanka Chopra Bouquet – via marthastewartweddings.com

From the dress and shoes to hairstyle and manicure, every detail of the bride’s ensemble is an expression of her unique style. Personal expression is the one thing that we regular folk have in common with princesses, A-list actresses, and influencers when it comes to saying ‘I Do.’ Personal expression cannot be bought for a high price tag – it is part of you and comes from within.

While we love talking about gowns and accessories, nothing gets us more excited than the topic of wedding bouquets. We could go on for hours about the fresh, sophisticated romance of Priyanka Chopra’s ribbon accented arrangement. Since many of our clients have celebrity wedding photos pinned to their vision boards, we thought it would be fun to highlight the famous brides whose bouquets captured our eyes, hearts, and imaginations over the last near seventy years.
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Shoshana & Michael Wedding - Low Centerpiece - Carlyle on the Green - Susan Stripling Photography

Planning & Inspiration

DIY Flower Arrangements: Real BB Wedding Centerpieces You Can Make At Home

by Kate Murphy

Shoshana & Michael Wedding – Low Centerpiece – Carlyle on the Green – Susan Stripling Photography

We are all spending A LOT MORE time at home right now. Many of us are using this period to declutter, organize, and redecorate in an effort to create a space that is warm, inviting, and well, feels good. Nothing lifts the spirit of the home like an arrangement of fresh flowers. Bountiful blooms at the center of the table or a petite bouquet on the window sill gives any room an instant mood makeover.

You are not alone if you meet the task of properly arranging flowers with hesitation. The eye-catching centerpieces peppering Instagram, Pinterest, and home decor magazines look incredibly complex, even to an expert’s eye. But this shouldn’t hold you back from exploring the joys of artful flower arranging. It is an accessible and easy to acquire skill and we are here to help. Going through the Real BB Wedding archives, we picked beautiful arrangements to get you started. Read on to learn how to recreate these blooming lovelies at home.
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Caroline & Jonathan Wedding - Wedding Cake Cutting - Oheka Castle - by Craig Paulson

Planning & Inspiration

Fresh Flower Wedding Cakes: 15 Ideas For Adding Real Blossoms To Your Big Day Dessert

by Kate Murphy

Caroline & Jonathan Wedding – Wedding Cake Cutting – Oheka Castle – by Craig Paulson

When it comes to wedding cakes these days, taste is just one of the factors that couples consider when deciding on what to serve their guests. Now more than ever, natural flowers and greenery are replacing the traditional cake topper to create fresh, one-of-kind designs. We always get excited when our couples ask us to set aside elements from their floral theme to decorate their wedding cake. A few pillowy peonies on top, a cascade of garden roses, and a ring of ivy can take the basic white dessert to the next level. From petite and sweet to blooming show-stoppers, here’s a look at some of our favorite petal trimmed confections from the Real BB Weddings archives.
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Kat and Ryan Wedding - Bridal Bouquet - New York Botanical Garden - Laurie Rhodes Photography

Planning & Inspiration

Color Us Happy: Vibrant Wedding Palette Ideas

by Kate Murphy

Kat and Ryan Wedding – Bridal Bouquet – New York Botanical Garden – Laurie Rhodes Photography

Scientists have conducted numerous research studies to confirm that certain colors have special ‘powers’ that influence our emotions and behaviors. The official term is ‘color psychology.’ Red is associated with passion, blue is calming, yellow means happiness, pink is romantic, orange is playful, green is refreshing and purple relates to creativity. As wedding floral designers, one of the best perks of the job is getting to witness the power of color first hand.

Sure, all white with a touch of green here and there is a classic mainstay that looks great across seasons and venues. This post is for our readers who are thinking about exploring color’s emotional expression. Often in our experience, a few slight adjustments in intensity and brightness is what is needed to take an arrangement to the next level. An exuberant floral theme just sings to the joyous feelings of love that fill a couple’s big day. For inspiration, we went through the Real BB Weddings archives and rounded up our favorite vibrant wedding palette ideas.
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Stefanie and Mike Wedding - Bride and Groom Bouquet Chuppah - Gotham Hall - Emma Cleary Photography

Weddings

Stefanie & Mike: Opulent Romance at Gotham Hall

by Kate Murphy

Stefanie and Mike Wedding – Bride and Groom Bouquet Chuppah – Gotham Hall – Emma Cleary Photo and Video

After seeing a Broadway show with her mom and grandma, Stefanie planned to meet up with friends for a night out in the city. Stefanie reassured them not to worry about how she would get home – her friend Mike had offered to drive in from East Meadow, just a town over from where her parents lived in Long Island and pick her up. She just had to ask. Grandmas know best and Stefanie’s grandma saw the situation clear as day. “If he is going to drive all the way into Manhattan at 1 am to pick you up and then just turn around and bring you home, he must be in love with you.”
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Planning & Inspiration